After bouncing back from their 0-4 away league defeat by Didcot Town in midweek with a 3-2 away win over Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side Crawley Green in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday, Aylesbury United’s hopes of recording back-to-back wins within the space of 48 hours were dashed as they crashed to a 0-1 home defeat by their local rivals and former landlords Thame United in their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 Central local derby at The Meadow on Bank Holiday Monday.

Unlike the goal fest the last time the sides met on Easter Monday when United won 7-2 at The Meadow, this was a rather drab encounter which saw both sides have good spells in the first half but Aylesbury struggle to find quality in the final third as a resolute, well organised and well disciplined Thame held firm.

Thame had gone into the game on the back of a 0-2 home defeat by Berkhamsted in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round 48 hours earlier, which had ended a run of back-to-back wins in their first 2 league games.

The first serious chance of note came Aylesbury’s way just into the 6th minute when Ben Seaton’s cross from the left byeline found Ollie Hogg whose first time left foot shot from 6 yards hit Thame keeper Craig Hill’s left hand post. The ball rebounded towards Max Hercules inside the right of the box who retrieved it and squared to his left to Harry Jones who fired his right foot shot from 10 yards wide of Hill’s left hand post.

The hosts went close again in the 7th minute when Jeanmal Prosper’s cross from the right towards the far post found James whose header from 8 yards hit Thame defender Dan James on his chest before bouncing only just wide of Hill’s left hand post for a corner.

Thame’s first serious chance came in the 14th minute when a low through ball on the right by Ben Sturgess found Harry Scott who ran on before crossing into the middle for Andy Gledhill, who sent his glancing header from 12 yards not far wide of Ducks keeper Archie Davis’ right hand post.

Aylesbury went close just into the 23rd minute when Aaron Berry’s lay-back from the right found Prosper whose right foot shot was saved by Hill.

Then at the other end just 27 seconds later, Thame had a shout for a possible penalty when Scott ran down the right before crossing to Sturgess, who took a touch before seeing his right foot shot from 8 yards hit Callum Mapley. The visitors claimed handball against Mapley as the ball went out for a corner, but referee Rob Evans from Northampton dismissed their claims.

Then in the 27th minute, Thame took the lead when Scott beat Jake Bewley on the right before crossing low to Marcus Mealing in the middle, whose left foot flick on found the totally unmarked Gledhill at the far post who fired his right foot shot from 12 yards into Davis’ left hand corner. 1-0 Thame

The Ducks went close in the 30th minute when Hercules picked up a loose ball on the left before crossing to Jones in the middle, whose left foot shot on the turn from 6 yards was held by Hill at the second attempt.

Another chance came the hosts’ way in the 36th minute when Berry’s ball in from the left found Greg Williams whose low right foot shot from 14 yards was held by Hill.

The last chance of the half came Thame’s way just into the 41st minute when a low diagonal ball from the middle to left by Jamie Essex found Mealing who fed former Duck Aston Goss on the left, who took a touch and cut in past Prosper before firing his curling right foot shot from 20 yards not far over the bar.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Thame

The first serious chance of note in the second half came Aylesbury’s way in the 53rd minute when Seaton’s pass on the left found Berry and with it looking like the advancing Hill’s ball, Berry saw his left foot shot from inside the 6 yard box rebound against the keeper’s right hand post before being cleared by James.

Another chance came the Ducks’ way in the 55th minute when Hercules won a tackle with David Lynn and ran forward before firing his right foot shot from 25 yards wide of Hill’s right hand post.

The first substitution came in the 60th minute when Aylesbury brought on Sean Coles to replace Jones.

A chance came the hosts’ way in the 61st minute when a ball infield from the left found Sean Coles, who passed to his right to Greg Williams who ran to his right before firing his right foot shot from 25 yards wide of the post.

Thame made their first change in the 66th minute with Tom Ashworth coming on for Scott while at the same time, Aylesbury made a double change of their own with Kierran Lataille coming on to replace Hogg and Sonny French coming on to replace Hercules.

Then 2 minutes later with Aylesbury having made all their permitted substitutions, Seaton went off injured to leave the Ducks to battle on with just 10 men.

A chance came the hosts’ way in the 74th minute when Berry won a challenge and laid it off to Berry who was only denied by a great saving tackle inside the box by James.

Then early in the 76th minute, Aylesbury had a shout for a possible penalty when Bewley’s corner from the right found Jack Wood at the far post who was just about to make contact with a header from 8 yards when he was tripped by Gledhill. However, referee Evans said no penalty.

Thame made their second change seconds later with Aaron Jewell coming on to replace Gledhill.

A chance came Aylesbury’s way in the 86th minute when Bewley’s cross from the left found Wood whose header from 15 yards towards Hill’s left hand corner was held by the keeper.

Thame made their final change a few seconds into the 2nd minute of added time at the end when Finlay Murray came on to replace Duran Martin.

Then with almost 3 ¾ minutes of added time gone, disaster struck for United when Ashworth’s diagonal through ball from the middle to left sent Goss clear on goal before the advancing Davis brought him down just outside the box. Davis was shown a straight red card by referee Evans to leave the hosts with just 9 men for the final moments of the game.

Williams took over in goal and with what was to prove the final action of a total of 5 minutes 20 seconds of added time, the resulting free kick by Mealing was charged down by the Aylesbury wall.

The final whistle 2 seconds later brought the game to an end and confirmed that Thame’s 100% league record was still intact to leave the Oxfordshire side top of the table ahead of 2nd placed Peterborough Sports on goals scored.

Meanwhile, the Ducks’ second consecutive league defeat leaves them in 17th place as the 7th of 7 teams all on 3 point ahead of this Saturday’s daunting trip to 3rd placed Bromsgrove Sporting (kick off 3pm).